Automatic stock-compensating device for card-feeders.



N0. 894F194. I I PATENTED JULY 28, 1908.

. AUTOMATIC STOCK COMPENSATING DEVICE FOR CARD FEEDERS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.9, 1906.

GEORGE F. GEB, or FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

.ATJ'TOMATIG STOGK-COMPENSAT ING DEVICE FOR CARD-FEEDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1908.

Application filed February 9, 1906. Serial No. 300,223.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. GEB, of Franklin, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stock-Com ensatin Devices for Card-Feeders, of whidli the fol owing is a specification.

This invention has relation to card feeders and has for its object to provide an improved mechanism for keeping uniform the amount of stock carried by the spike apron to the scale pan notwithstanding or irrespective of variations in the quantity of stock in the feed box.

In accordance with the present invention, I utilize a pressure board arranged near the upper portion of the spike apron so that, w en the stock runs low in the feed box, the pressure supplied by the board against the stock thrown down by the evening comb compensates for the decrease of the quantity of stock in the box, thereby keeping uniform the quantity carried over by the spike apron. This board is pivotally mounted and is automatically impelled toward the spike apron in such a manner that its ressure against the stock increases as the v0 ume of the stock decreases, so that the pressure of the stock against the s ike apron remains constant irrespective o the volume of the stock between the spike apron and the board. This is accomplished in accordance with my invention independently of the power transmitting mechanism which forms a part of the board feed, the board adjusting itself automatically as stated. According to the illus-, trated embodiment of the invention, it may conveniently take the form of a pivotally mounted board connected by gearing to a swinging weighted arm so arranged with relation to the board that, as the weighted arm swings from a vertical to a substantially horizontal position, the board is moved with increasing pressure against the volume-of stock located between it and the spike apron.

Referring to the accompanyin drawings Figure 1 shows the general out ine of a card feeder with its spike apron and evening comb, and with my improved compensating device positioned as when in action. Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary side elevation of the card feeder, with one of the end walls broken away to show the pressure board.

The reference letters a a'indicate the end walls of the feed box of a card feeder of the Bramwell type, c the spike apron, and b the evening comb. At a point, a com aratively short distance below the latter, locate a pressure board d which extends across the box ractically from end to end thereof and whic is pivotally suspended therein from the upper edge so that it can swing toward and from the spike apron. The board is pivoted a suflicient distance from the latter to allow for forming therewith a trough or pocket of considerable size when its lower edge approaches the a ron. The pivoting of the board is effected by journalin a pair of studs or short shafts e in the en of the walls of the box and securing said shafts or studs to the upper edge of the board by any suitable devices.

, The studs or shafts e project or protrude some distance beyond the end walls and have affixed to them gears f which intermesh. with gears g, secured to stud shafts h journaled in the end walls of the box. Secured to each stud h is the hub of an arm 41, upon which is adjustably secured a weight j. The two arms '1' and the wei hts j together weigh a little more than the card d. The arms t are adapted to swing from an inclined position slightly to oneside of avertical plane through the axis of the stud h to a substantially horizontal position, whereas the board (1 is adapted to swing from a position of 45 degrees from a vertical plane through the axis of the studs 6 through an arc of substantially 90 degrees, more or less, all as indicated by the two positions illustrated by dotted and full lines in Fig. 2, stops k, is, being used to prevent the weighted arm from swinging too far in either direction. Preferably the two gears f and g are substantially the same size although one may have a greater'number of teeth than the other, as shown.

Assuming that the arms 'L and the board (1 are in the dotted position shown in Fig. 2, with the board (1 at a greater angle to the vertical than the arms 1', and resting u on and being supported by the stock the weight of the board will be sufficient to swing the arms to a vertical position as the stock in the feed box decreases; then, with the decrease of the stock, the weighted arm will swing to the left from a vertical osition, this movement being assisted by t e continuingdownward movement of the board until the latter reaches a vertical pendent position. At this time, the weights j will be to the left of the vertical plane coincident with the axis ofthe stud h and their weight will be sufficient to maintain the rearward position above meninvention, and described a way of construct-.

tioned, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, where it rests upon the stock and is supported thereby. As the stock decreases, however, the board swings downward and is impelled towards the apron and caused to assume a position where it inclines towards the latter and provides a pocket to hold or sup port the stock thrown back by the evening comb. Thus the upper part of the apron is supplied with stock as though the feed box were still filled and uniformity in delivering stock to the scale pan is assured It will thus be seen that, as the stock lessens in the feed box, the pressure of the board increases gradually as the board moves toward the apron, andalthough there is a diminution in the volume of the stock and an increase in pressure of the board against the stock, yet the pressure of the stock against the apron in the plane of contact remains constant.

It will be understood that, although the construction here shown and described fulfils the objects primarily stated, yet the invention is capable of other embodiments to suit particular requirements.

Having thus explained the nature of the ing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the modes of its use,

I declare that what I claim is 1. In a card feeder, the combination with a spike apron, of a pendent stock sustaining board having its upper edge pivoted above an intermediate point between the top and bottom'of the acting stretch of said apron, so that the lower end of the board may swing past a vertical plane towards said apron to form a V-shaped pocket for the stock, of an upstanding pivoted weighted arm, movable past a vertical plane, and gears connecting said arm and said board, whereby the board first moves said arm to a vertical position and then the weighted arm impels the board toward the spike apron as the stock decreases in volume.

2. In a card feeder, the combination with a spike apron and the evening comb, of a stock board pivoted at its upper end at a point at a distance from the apron and below the evener comb and above the middle of theoperativestreteh of the apron, whereby said board is adapted to rest by its own gravity upon and be supported by the stock, and to move to an acute angle to the said operative stretch of the apron to form a V- shaped pocket below the evener comb for the stock, one or more pivoted weighted arms, and intermeshing gears connected to said arm or arms and said board substantially as set forth, said parts being arranged. whereby said board first moves said weighted arm or arms, and then said weighted arm or arms move said board.

3. In a card feeder, the combination with a spike apron of a pendent stock-sustaining board pivoted at its upper edge and having its lower edge movable toward the spike apron from a position where it rests by gravity upon the stock, one or more weighted arms pivoted to swing about an axis through an are above the plane of its pivot, and gears connecting said arms with said board, said gears having unequal numbers of teeth whereby the board first moves said Weighted arm or arms, and then said weighted. arm or arms move said board, substantially for the purpose set forth.

4. In a card feeder, the combination with. a spike apron of a pendent stock-sustaining board, pivoted at its upper edge and having its lower edge movable toward and from the spike apron, and adapted to swing below the plane of its pivot toward the spike apron from a position where it rests by its own gravity upon the stock to a position at an acute angle to the apron, a weighted. arm adapted to swing about a pivot through a plane above said pivot from an upright position to a position approximating the hori- Zontal, and power transmitting connections between the board and said weighted arm whereby the latter actuates the former.

In testimony whereof I have allixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE F. GEB.

Witnesses:

JAMES E. DONAHUE, WILLIAM A. VVYoKoFF. 

